Author: Mike Hodges

UFC 146 Fight Card: Would Cain Velasquez Deserve a Title Shot with a Victory?

Cain Velasquez is widely considered the No. 2 heavyweight fighter, and although a victory over Antonio Silva will put him back into title contention, it won’t necessarily guarantee him a title shot.Velasquez has fought credible competition and has ceme…

Cain Velasquez is widely considered the No. 2 heavyweight fighter, and although a victory over Antonio Silva will put him back into title contention, it won’t necessarily guarantee him a title shot.

Velasquez has fought credible competition and has cemented his status as one of the best heavyweights in the sport, but he also needs to rebuild and evolve as a fighter. One win will not convince a lot of people he is worthy of stepping in to face Junior dos Santos again, especially when the Brazilian finished him in devastating fashion.

If he is able to dominate and defeat Silva convincingly, then it might increase his chances, but one more victory against another formidable opponent should earn Velasquez a title opportunity.

With Alistair Overeem serving a suspension for the rest of this year and his teammate Daniel Cormier still competing in Strikeforce, there a few options available.

But a bout that makes sense is pairing Velasquez up with Fabricio Werdum.

The Brazilian is expected to face Mike Russow at UFC 147 in July and if he is able to pick up a second straight win, he will be in the same position as the former UFC heavyweight champion.

If they were to face-off it would determine the next challenger for the UFC heavyweight title.

The UFC heavyweight division has become one of the more competitive weight classes in recent memory and it would be a waste if the division became stagnant because of rematches occurring.

Velasquez will get his chance to try and regain the UFC heavyweight crown in the near future, but it won’t happen in his next fight. 

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UFC 146 Predictions: Stefan Struve vs. Lavar Johnson

After knocking out Pat Barry earlier this month, Lavar Johnson steps in to replace an injured Mark Hunt on a few weeks’ notice to face Stefan Struve on the main card.Johnson will be carrying some momentum into this bout following his win over Barry at …

After knocking out Pat Barry earlier this month, Lavar Johnson steps in to replace an injured Mark Hunt on a few weeks’ notice to face Stefan Struve on the main card.

Johnson will be carrying some momentum into this bout following his win over Barry at UFC on FOX 3 and could raise his stock significantly if he is able to pick up back-to-back wins in a span of 21 days. 

Johnson boasts a lot of power in his strikes, especially in his uppercut, and he will look to turn this bout into a brawl and try to rough up the 6’11” Danish heavyweight. Acquired from Strikeforce earlier this year, Johnson has recorded 15 of 17 of his victories via KO/TKO and has only spent a total fight time of 4:42 throughout his career. Johnson is a powerhouse and will attempt to land early and finish the fight as soon as possible.

Struve has quietly been making a name for himself throughout the heavyweight rankings, as he owns 28 career victories at just 24. Seven of those wins have come inside the UFC and three of them via submission, tallying his submission total to 15.

In addition to being a submission specialist, Struve is also a effective kickboxer. He tends to throw a lot kicks from the outside and maintaining distance from his opponents, utilizing as much of his 81″ reach as he can.

However, Struve has yet to effectively use his height and reach to his advantage and he does not understand how to judge distance very well. His long limbs might help him on the ground, but this does not bode well against a high-volume striker like Johnson. 

Look for Johnson to test Struve early and cut off the distance to get inside and land on his opponent to force a first-round stoppage.

Prediction: Lavar Johnson via technical knockout in the first round.

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Why Brock Lesnar Should Be Inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame

Although he only spent a short amount of time in the UFC, Brock Lesnar made a huge impact on the sport and should be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.The company signed the former WWE superstar in 2007, creating a huge amount of coverage su…

Although he only spent a short amount of time in the UFC, Brock Lesnar made a huge impact on the sport and should be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.

The company signed the former WWE superstar in 2007, creating a huge amount of coverage surrounding his debut. But no one anticipated the success he would go on to achieve. In just eight professional bouts, Lesnar would capture the UFC heavyweight title, break pay-per-view records and build up an impressive resume against the who’s who of the heavyweight division, defeating former champions like Randy Couture and Frank Mir.

Those are accolades that very few fighters could accomplish, especially after just a few years of competing at the elite level in mixed martial arts.

Lesnar’s presence inside the Octagon was just as impressive as some of the victories he carried. Standing at 6’4″ and weighing over 265 pounds, his physique and ability were uncanny. No other fighter had possessed such a raw blend of strength, athleticism and agility.

But the South Dakota native was definitely larger than life in more ways than one. 

Aside from his physical stature, Lesnar’s charisma and rebellious attitude made him a household name with the UFC, and it immediately attracted audiences everywhere he went. 

Realistically, his professional record didn’t account for much, and it indicated that he was nothing more than mediocre. But his aura and marketability overshadowed his performances. You will not find a single fighter who had more impact on the sport than Lesnar, including UFC champions Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz—both of whom went on to achieve more success in their respective careers.

Whether you loved him or hated him, the former UFC heavyweight champion’s charisma and immediate impact launched him into superstardom, the likes of which no one had ever seen before. And that alone should make him a leading candidate for the UFC Hall of Fame.

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Rampage Jackson and Joe Rogan Resolve Their Feud

UFC commentator Joe Rogan and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson appear to have ended their feud.Prior to his bout with Ryan Bader at UFC 144, Jackson had criticised Rogan for showing favouritism towards Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners as opposed to strikers….

UFC commentator Joe Rogan and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson appear to have ended their feud.

Prior to his bout with Ryan Bader at UFC 144, Jackson had criticised Rogan for showing favouritism towards Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners as opposed to strikers.

The Fear Factor host has stood by his actions claiming his commentary as being objective in order to help viewers understand what is happening over the duration of a bout and how fighters can improve their chances of winning. 

“I always want you to know that if I say anything, it’s never out of disrespect. I like you, I always root for you and I think you’re a great guy,” Rogan told the former UFC light heavyweight champion.

Rogan has been labelled, along with his co-partner Mike Goldberg, as one of the best broadcast teams in the sport. They add a lot of energy and excitement to the broadcast, and Rogan delivers intelligent and insightful analysis on fighters.

But Rogan’s commentary has been criticised by other fighters in the past, including former UFC welterweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes. Hughes didn’t agree with Rogan’s commentary regarding Jake Shields vs. Martin Kampmann at UFC 121.

It is understandable why some fighters and fans may not agree with Rogan’s commentary, but he isn’t trying to sway opinion. 

More often than not, Rogan doesn’t make a mistake while commentating, and he has always encouraged fighters like Jackson to improve their game in order to become more successful in the Octagon.

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Mark Munoz Thinks He Deserves Title Shot over Hector Lombard

The UFC middleweight division has become shallow largely in part to UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and his dominance, but Mark Munoz is one of the few contenders left standing.While Silva will make his 11th title defense in a rematch against …

The UFC middleweight division has become shallow largely in part to UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and his dominance, but Mark Munoz is one of the few contenders left standing.

While Silva will make his 11th title defense in a rematch against Chael Sonnen this summer, Munoz will be making his case for a title shot as he prepares for Chris Weidman at UFC on Fuel 4.

“The Filipino Wrecking Machine” might be climbing his way to title contention but he protests against the idea of having UFC newcomer Hector Lombard recieve one before him.

The former Bellator middleweight champion will make his UFC debut this summer when he meets Brian Stann on UFC on Fox 4 in August.

“He’s a good fighter and he’s already mixing up the water, I mean, he’s already doing that. But at the same time, I’ve been in this organization for over two years (actually over three, just sayin) and I’ve been earning my stripes. He needs to do the same,” Munoz told AllElbows.com.

It is common for a dominant fighter to earn an immediate title shot after his debut, more due to the lack of competition than a winning streak or previous accolades. 

Silva received the same treatment after defeating Chris Leben in his first matchup as he knocked him out in just 49 seconds. Lombard could be awarded the same path, should he pick up a victory over Stann.

Munoz has added some credibility to his name since losing to Yushin Okami in 2010 and he believes he should rewarded with a title opportunity over the Cuban middleweight.

“I don’t think he deserves a title shot. I don’t,” he said. “For me, I’ve gone to the brink of where I was fighting for a title shot when I fought Yushin (Okami). I lost that fight, but now I’m on a four-fight winning streak, so now I feel like I deserve that fight should I win against Chris Weidman.”

Lombard does bring in a more intriguing fight against the champion, due to his knockout power, but Munoz also has gained a respectable winning streak over some formidable competition.

In most situations, a veteran who has remained unbeaten in four fights would likely get the nod, but if Lombard is able to get a dominant win in his debut, there is a possibility that a title bout with Silva would have a bigger buyrate.

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Alistair Overeem Promises He Will Become UFC Heavyweight Champion

Alistair Overeem’s UFC career took a bit of a stumble on his road to earning a UFC title shot, but the former Strikeforce heavyweight champion is confident he can return and claim the UFC heavyweight crown.Overeem was expected to battle with heavy-hand…

Alistair Overeem‘s UFC career took a bit of a stumble on his road to earning a UFC title shot, but the former Strikeforce heavyweight champion is confident he can return and claim the UFC heavyweight crown.

Overeem was expected to battle with heavy-handed Brazilian Junior dos Santos this weekend for the UFC heavyweight title. However, “The Demolition Man” was removed from the main event after his pre-fight drug test revealed he had an elevated testosterone level of 14-to-1.

Frank Mir has since replaced him, while the Dutchman was handed a nine-month suspension from the Nevada Athletic Commission.

A recent episode of his documentary “The Reem” details his hearing with the NSAC and his reaction towards his suspension.

Despite the extended layoff, Overeem said he will make a comeback to the Octagon and contend for the title.

“I greatly respect the commission, I respect their decision. They come across as gentlemen and gentlewomen, very respectful, very understanding of the situation,” Overeem said. “I’m going to get stronger from this, I’m going to keep on training, and I’ll be back in nine months. I’m still going to get that belt.”

Overeem will be able to reapply in December later this year, possibly setting up a return for early next year. It isn’t likely that he will immediately receive a title shot, but he will be in title contention.

Perhaps the only positive outcome for Overeem is that he can continue training and staying in shape to prevent any ring rust upon his return.

His tenure with the company is still uncertain, though, and UFC president Dana White has to yet to determine what it will do regarding Overeem’s future.

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